Same-sex marriage didn't come cheap in Arizona

Instead of kicking the can down the road, Congress passed a budget. Most representatives from Arizona opposed the budget.

The bill for Arizona to defend its now-unconstitutional law preventing same-sex couples from marrying has hit half a million dollars.

U.S. District Court Judge John Sedwick ruled this week the state must pay $300,000 in attorneys fees for the plaintiffs in the Majors vs. Horne case. The attorneys for that case included Phoenix law firm Perkins Coie and the national gay-rights legal organization Lambda Legal. Perkins Coie is donating its share of the money to Lambda Legal.

That order follows an October order from the same judge that the state pay $200,000 in Arizona's other lawsuit challenging the law, Connolly vs. Roche.

Perkins Coie's attorney, Dan Barr, said the ability for plaintiffs to seek legal fees makes it feasible for average citizens to challenge unconstitutional laws.

Nelda Majors, 74, with partner of 57 years Karen Bailey, 73, wipes away tears as she describes the rulings' impact at their home in Scottsdale. The court ruled the federal act defining marriage as only between a man and a woman as unconstitutioal in a 5-4 opinion. The court's decision on the federal Defense of Marriage Act allows legally married same-sex couples equal access to numerous federal benefits, such as tax breaks and Social Security benefits.(Photo: Rob Schumacher/The Republic)

"If you didn't have this fee function, people wouldn't bring these lawsuits," Barr said. "Or they'd be less likely to bring these lawsuits."

And in this case, he said, the result of the lawsuits were significant.

"Arizona had same-sex marriage seven months before the Supreme Court issued its ruling," he said.